Come together against cancer at the Wilmot Warrior Walk on Sunday!

ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- UR Medicine’s Wilmot Cancer Institute will host its sixth annual Wilmot Warrior Walk on Sunday, Sept. 9 at the Highland Park Bowl, 1137 South Ave. in Rochester. The fundraiser features a certified 5K, certified 10K and a 1-mile walk as well as a celebration. Proceeds support cancer research and the Judy DiMarzo Cancer Survivorship Program at Wilmot Cancer Institute.

“Research makes it possible to find new treatments for cancer, but we cannot do it alone. Having community support is critical for research at Wilmot and for supporting current cancer survivors. This annual event helps both of these areas,” says Jonathan W. Friedberg, M.D., M.M.Sc., director of Wilmot Cancer Institute. “This event is really much more than a fundraiser, though. It’s an inspiring time where the Rochester-area cancer community comes together, and we invite everyone to join us in support of these patients, families, friends and researchers.”

The event has already raised more than $75,000 online and more than 1,000 people who’ve been impacted by cancer are expected to attend, including Shana Pies. She was diagnosed with brain cancer earlier this year and says she’s lucky to have had amazing support from family, friends and her oncology team at Wilmot. She and her sister, Sara, wanted to do something to help others faced with a cancer diagnosis, particularly others who may lack the support she’s had, so Sara formed Team She-Hulk, which has raised more than $2,400 so far.

The team’s name comes from a joke Sara made: After Shana completed her radiation treatment, Sara jokingly likened her to the Hulk, the Marvel Comics character.

“I’ve gotten so much care from Wilmot and just the support systems that I have and the support systems that they’ve offered to my family as well,” says Shana, “It just was something where we were like, if it’s going to bolster the systems Wilmot has in place to help people going through a cancer diagnosis and then also to go toward research, it felt like something we would want to be a part of.”

The 10K begins at 8 a.m. and the 5K kicks off at 9:30 a.m. The 1-mile walk starts at 11 a.m., after a program taking place at 10:30 a.m. where top fundraisers and others will be recognized with awards. The program also serves as a jumpstart to the celebration portion of the event, which includes:

Bounce houses for kids and teens as well as and face painting

Two food trucks and a street cart on site (food available for purchase)

Free massages given by students from the Onondaga School of Therapeutic Massage

Community cancer groups with resources for survivors and their families

Registration for the Wilmot Warrior Walk costs $35 per person. Participants can register online through Friday, Sept. 7 at 12 p.m. Those who haven’t registered online may register on Saturday, Sept. 8 at Medved, 3400 Monroe Avenue, Rochester, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. or may register the morning of the event on Sept. 9, beginning at 7 a.m.